RALLY NEWS NO.3 Kilmallock Service/Saturday 4pm

UNOFFICIAL LEADERBOARD AFTER STAGE 5 Coolfree 2
1st (3) Kevin Lynch/Francis Regan (Impreza WRC) 39.39.6
2ND (2) John McCarthy/M Morrissey (Corolla WRC) 40.16.8
3RD (1) Glenn Allen/Damien Connolly (Corolla WRC) 40.27.3
4TH (12) Garry Jennings/David Moynihan (Lancer N) 41.53.3 **Possible 1m pen.
5th (4) Stephen Moore/Tony McHugh (Focus WRC) 42.05.3
6th (5) Kevin O'Kane/Martin Brady (Impreza WRC) 42.21.8
7th (15) Pete McCullagh Jnr/Alan Dolan (Lancer N) 42.25.5
8th (20) Keith Cronin/Antony O'Conail (Lancer N) 42.27.5
9TH (9) Dominic McNeill/Francis Kenny (Escort WRC) 42.40.0
10th (114) Sean Lynch/Martin McNicholl (Impreza WRC) 42.45.7
11th (11) Brian Lawlor/Peter Kavanagh (lancer N) 42.50.9
12th (14) Pete Willoughby/Greg McCarthy (Lancer N) 42.59.4

Kevin Lynch and his co driver Francis Regan have been fastest over the last 3 stages to increase their lead, but it hasn’t been all plain sailing for Lynch as his Subaru has been suffering some sort of transmission problem. Kevin thought it was something to do with the centre diff but it looks like the engineers have discovered a damaged drive shaft so perhaps that has been the sum of the trouble. Glenn Allen has slipped from 2nd to 3rd over those 3 stages, Glenn’s Corolla losing its back brakes in stage 4 and he dropped quite a few seconds, although he got things sorted for stage 5 and was 2nd fastest. John McCarthy is still having a problem with his Corolla and a leaking coolant pipe. This is not only sending a little steam on to the inside of the windscreen but now the electronic system is trying to close the engine power down as the temperature rises.

Brian McGillen was leading group N at last service but his Impreza has ground to a halt in Streamhill Bridge, stage 4, some smoke and a few flames signifying a blown engine or turbo. This has left Garry Jennings leading group N, Garry said he is going well with no problems. Keith Cronin now holds 2nd group N with Brian Lawlor 3rd. Lawlor is having some problems with his Lancer’s 1st gear and hopes to have a look at it in service. Kevin O’Kane has woken up a bit and has gone well over the last few stages. Dominic McNeill reckons his car is down on power a bit and he’s going to check the intercooler. Pete Willoughby backed in stage 5 when a loud clanging developed, possibly from the differential. Frank Kelly has no 2nd or 6th gear in his Escort, his total now 44.02.6. Seamus O’Connell seems to be the best 2 wheel drive at the moment, his total 43.18.2.

Neil Weaver had a spin in stage 5 but his gearbox is now fixed and overall he is going strong. Danny Barry has crashed his Lancer and the co driver has been taken for a check up. Sean Lynch has had a good run over the last few stages, his total now 43.20.1. James Murphy is still struggling with his Escort, disappointing for him on his home stages, his total 43.58.4. Pete McCullagh Jnr is going well, his total 43.26.1 in his lancer. Rory Galligan tells us that there is a real close race between his Peugeot competitors and Tony Rafferty had a narrow lead over Martin Ewing after 2 stages. Justin Dunne & Sean Duggan have retired their Group N Lancer on stage 3 with a blown engine. They were 12th at the time. Martin Cairns lost some time when he put his Impreza on its roof in stage 2. Still going but lost some time. Stephen Dolan tried to keep going in his Impreza after it had been on the roof but on safety grounds wasn’t allowed to continue until he gets a new windscreen fitted, which he may be able to do and compete on the Sunday leg. More news later. BRIAN & LIZ PATTERSON www.rallynews.net